Automatic electric train-line coupling



June 3 1924.

v T. R. BROWN AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TRAIN LINE COUPLING Sheets-Sheet. 1

June 3 1924. l 1,496,294

' T. a. BRowN AUTCMATIC ELECTRIC TRAIN LNB COUPLING Filed July 5, 3.918 2 Snee1.s-Snee\ 2 Patented June 3, 1924? PATENT orrics.

THCCMAS R. BROWN, OF'PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 10 THE WESTING- HO'USE AIB BRAKE COMPANY, OF WLMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRG TRAIN-LINE COUPLING.

Application filed July 5,

This invention relates to *appliances` for couplingelectric circuits between the cars of a train and more particularly to devices oit' this character in which each counterpart coupler is provided with a movable portion, or carrier for the electric contacts, adapted to beprojected out at the end of the car for making electric connection with the circuits hof the adjoining car, and to be withdrawn or retracted when it is `desired to disconnect and separate the cars:

The object of my invention is touprovide a simple mechanical connection for positively projecting the movable portion of the electric coupler automatically, upon the coming together. of the couplers, and it comprises a tappet member yieldingly mounted in the coupler and adapted to engagel a fixed portion of the counterpart coupler so as to be depressed thereby during the movement of said coupler in the coming together of the cars, and a mechanical connection from said tappet for actuating themovable portion of the electric coupler to project the same. and .establish the desired electrical connection through the corresponding cir-l cuits between the cars.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation, illustrating one form of Q electric coupler embodying my improvement; Fig. 2, a plan of the saine,.a portion of the cover being broken away; Fig. 3 Va detail transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig.4,.a detail view in plan showing the operating levers in normal uncoupled position; Fig. 5 a similar view showing the coupled1 position; Fig, 6,`a side elevation of the same; Fig. 7 a side elevationtaken from the opposite4 side; and Fig. V8,21, similar view showin the contacts kin the extended position' with the shutter open.

191s. serial No. $3,495.

According to the` construction shown the electric coupler comprises a casing 10, adapted to be suspended -at the endof the car,preferably beneath the car coupler, as indicated by dottedlines in Fig. 1, and containing a movable member or carrier 11, forthe electric contacts 12, connected to the respective` train line circuits by wires 13. The4 contact carrier 4may preferably be mounted. to slide upon suitable guides within the casing,"and is adapted to be projected out'of the open front end thereof when it is desired to vrestablish electrical connection through the circuits between the cars. In the. design shown each yelectric line or wire 13 is divided into twok branches connected to a pair of contacts 12, one at each side of the vertical centerline and adapted to make butt contactwith .the corresponding pairs of contacts of a counterpart coupler when the contactvcarriers'll of the two couplers are projected together.` Y

For the purpose of projecting these contact carriers automatically by the coming together of the couplers of adjoining cars,

I provide a yielding memberA or tappet 14,

which may be mounted in any suitable manand .normally extending out beyond the face thereof so as to engage with a fixed portion of the .casing of a counterpart coupler and be depressed thereby when the two couplers are brought together inthe act of coupling the cars. j

A While various Aforms of Amechanical connections actuated by the tappet member may be employed for projecting the contact carrier, there is shown.l an actuating lever 16 mounted cnthepivot pin 17 within the casing below the contact carrier and carrying a stud 18, extending up within alslot 19 in said carrier. The tappet leve114, has an end portion 14, connected tothe end por tion 16a, of the main lever though a link or ball 20, and a springi, witha rod 22,.

is employed for opposing the outward movement of the lever on its pivotand Yfor returning the same and the contact carrier to the normal or retracted position when the couplings are separated. n

For protecting the contact terminals 12, from exposure to weather conditions, dust and dirt, when the couplers are separated, there is a shutter 23, having side arms 23a,

.mounted on pivot pins 24, and adapted to swing over the opening at the front end of the casing. For automatically operating the shutter the lever 16, is provided with a lug or flange 25, at one end adapted to cooperate with a lug 26, on one of the arms 2,38, of the shutter and swing the same upward and away from the front opening. c

In order that the electric contact terminals may be disconnected and withdrawn, in case it should be desired to do so, without uncoupling or separating the car couplers, ymeans are provided for moving the ulcrum of .the lever 16. For this purpose the pin 17, is carried by an arm 27, mounted t0 slide in guides 28, on the casing, but normally held n a fixed position against the side of the Vcasing and a bracket 29, by means of a spring 30. A portion of the bracket 29, is cut away at 34, and a cam 31, with a shaft 32 .and handle 33 comprises a means for manually shifting the arm 27, on its pivot 17, so that the end of the arm may slip into the recessed portion 34, of the bracket 29. A roller 35, mounted on the arm 27, may be employed to facilitate this action. I/Vhen the couplers are coupled together and the handle 33, is turned to trip off the arm 27, it will be seen that the force of the tappet pressing upon the lever 16, will carry said lever backward and withdraw the contact carrier 11, toward its retracted position, the arm 27 sliding in the guides 28 on the casing. The cam 31 holds the arm 27, against the pressure of the spring 30, but when the cam is released by turning the handle `33, hac-lt to normal posit-ion, the spring 30, acts `.to push the roller up t-he inclined surface of the bracket and restore the arm 27 and fulcrum 17, of lever 16, to the normal position.

When two counterpart couplers are brought rtogether in the act of coupling adjoining cars the tappet member of each coupler is engaged by a fixed portion of the counterpart coupler at the Llast part of the movement of the couplers in approaching each other, thereby depressing the tappet and turning the lever 16 upon its fulcrum 17.y In :the first part of this movement ythe lug or flange y25 at the end of lever 16, op-

erates to swing the shutter upward to its open posit-ion, as indicated in Fig. 8, and the flat .surface of the lug 26 then rests upon the top of vthe flange 25, which slides thereunder during its further movement. During this preliminary movement the stud 18, travels freely in the slot 19, in the contact carrier 11, without moving the same but upon the further and complete movement of the lever 16, dueto the further movement ot the tappet, the stud 18 engages the carrier and projects the same forward to its extended position, shown in Fig. 5 in which the contact terminals 12 make 'butt contact with the terminals of the counterpart coupler -and establish electrical connection through the respective train line circuits. Then the car couplers are uncoupled and Apulled apart the spring 21, operates to return the lever 16 to its normal position, first moving the stud 18, through the slot 19, then withdrawing the contact carrier sufiiciently to permit the shutter to close and then permitting said shutter to fall and completing the return movement of the contact carriery as the tappet member 14 is again extended out beyond the face of the casing.

What I claim is:

1. Iny an electric train line coupling, the combination of a pair of counterpartcouplers each comprising a casing, a kcarrier movably mounted in said casing, a plurality .of car line circuit contacts -mounted on said carrier and engaging the 1corresponding contacts `of the counterpart coupler when coupled together, yielding tappets each adapted to engage the other counterpart coupler, and mechanical connections operated by the movement of the tappets for projecting both of said contact `carriers together.

In an electric train line coupling, .the combination of a pair of counterpart couplers each comprising a casing, a carrier movably mounted in said casing, a plurality o'f car line circuit contacts mounted lon said carrier and engaging the corresponding contacts of the counterpart coupler` when cou pled together, yielding tappets each adapted to engage the othercounterpart coupler, mechanical connections operated by the movement of the tappets for projecting both ot' said contact carriers togetherlat the same time, and springs for retracting said carriers when the couplers are separated.

3. In an electric train line coupling, the combination of a pair of counterpartfcouplers each comprising a casing, ya carrier movablyv mounted in said casing, a plurality of car'line circuit contacts mounted on said carrier and engaging the correspondingcontacts of the counterpart coupler when coupled together, yielding tappets each adapted to .engage the othercounterpart coupler, and

levers actuated by said tappets `for project-y movahly mounted in said casing, a plurality ing both of said Contact carriers together of car line circuit contacts mounted on said at the same time, and springs for retractng carrier and engaging the corresponding oon- Said levers. 10 tacts of the counterpart coupler When cou- In testimony whereof I have hereunto 5 pled together, yielding tappets each adapted Set my hand.

to engage the other counterpart coupler,

levers actuated by said tappets for project-` THOMAS R. BROWN. 

